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The Cardinals don’t have that one pass rusher, a la Bertrand Berry 2004, that piles up the sacks. For that reason, many have wondered about the Cards’ ability to get pressure on the passer. But as they proved last season — when they finished seventh in the NFL in sacks, despite their leading sack guy, Calais Campbell, having just eight — they are faring just fine in that regard. The Cards, in one fell swoop, took control of the NFL’s longest active streak of games with multiple sacks.

The Cardinals have done it eight games in a row, supplanting the Patriots, who had done it nine games in a row before the Cards made sure they got just one last weekend. Tom Brady, on the other hand, was sacked four times. The Cardinals already have seven sacks this season after posting 42 last season, with two each for Campbell and linebacker Paris Lenon. Next up is Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who can be had (the Cards sacked him twice last season).

It’s not always about the sack. Sometimes pressure is enough, or even better, depending on what you’re trying to do. But clearly the team is finding a way to get to the quarterback. Given that they rarely blitzed last week, it’s also a good sign they can generate sacks with just four rushers.

You are so right. Sacks are fine but they aren’t everything. Hurries are what cause interceptions and we have been extremely productive in hurrying the QB. And as you say best of all it is being done without the need for too many blitzes. Our overall defence has been fantastic and if the offence can pick up a gear or two, playoffs here we come.

We are very very close to becoming elite. This defense can allow the offense to catch up. The Kolb to fitz combo confidence level will get higher.young tackles learn the right things going forward. Sky is the limit.its all on whiz.

@dyno…. Love it. There is no doubt in my Mind , especially after how we pounded him last year, that Vick will be looking over his shoulder. Even during ore-game warm-ups. 5 will get you 2.50, he doesn’t finish the game.

Whoa there fellow Cards fans, we are 2-0 and have to face an elite elite front seven in the Eagles. It’s their defense we got to worry about. Vick won’t beat us, it will be up to their defense. Go diehard cards….

Believe it or not, I was fairly confident the Cards were going to beat the Patriots. The Patriots are mortal when opposing teams practice in-doors. Opponents practicing outside (easily spied upon) Patriots are God-Like. NFL needs to re-investigate Spy-gate again, and hand similar punishing as to what the Saints were dealt. I do NOT have the same feeling for the Eagles. Their defense is on par with the Seahawks, but their offense is much better.

Cards can win, if they play conservatively and not turn the ball-over. This game will end up in another gut-wrench / nerve racking / palms sweating event.

thursday before the eagles game and a few thoughts come to mind. first of all, a lot of people think we will win this game. not “may win” or “could win” but WILL WIN. this is different from a few weeks ago when there was talk about bad things creeping into our game. i think we are getting our swagger back and we will go a long way this year. i was unhappy with whiz on sunday when, in my opinion, he made a bad decision in running the ball on third down rather than having kolb take a knee and then let the clock run down on fourth down, take a timeout and then punt. the other day i read that williams was on the field instead of wells because it was wells’ “turn”. this makes no sense to me. you don’t play someone at that point in the game because it’s his “turn”. you play the person who gives you the best chance to win. isn’t this what whiz says all the time? isn’t this what he said when he was justifying choosing skelton over kolb? williams is a rookie. wells is not and wells is bigger. we needed 13 yards to get a first down. there was little hope of getting a first down running the ball. take a knee or hand the ball off to wells if you must but williams should not have been on the field in that situation. we are very fortunate that the fumble was not picked out of the air and run in for a touchdown. some of you may be old enough to remember a similar play thirty odd years ago when the jets were running out the clock against the eagles and their qb joe pisarcek tried to hand off, the ball was fumbled and scooped up by herman edwards who returned it for a touchdown. that was the last time pisarcek ever played. we were fortunate not to have given that game away. i am a huge cardinals fan but some of the things whiz does just makes me shake my head. off topic here. michael turner has a big game for the falcons and then has too much to drink and drives his car almost 100 miles per hour before being arrested. why would he or anyone in his position do that? how many times does this have to happen before all players get the message? i’m not against having a few celebratory drinks after a victory. but hire a limo for the evening to drive you around. they can all afford a couple of hundred dollars for this service and it is way better than hurting yourself or someone else. smarten up! he deserves to be severely disciplined assuming the reports are true. hopefully our guys know better. and when will michael floyd get some balls thrown his way? will we see laron byrd sometime? and william powell deserves a chance to play even if wells and williams are healthy. neither has really produced so far. our defense has played very well and ray horton deserves a lot of credit. i was surprised to read that dan williams had less than ten snaps on sunday. not a lot of work for a second round draft pick. i think kolb has a good game sunday and then the qb controversy begins anew. whiz being whiz probably goes back to skelton. we win sunday 23 to 17. let’s get started. sorry to be long winded.

As much as I hat to think that Beanie or Ryan will be injured this season, I believe that Powell will be the #2 RB at some point this season. Not that Powell won’t perform well, but I would hate for either of them to be injured.

Darren,
Hope the Cardinals aren’t selling out in order to put pressure on the QB.
In 1970, the Cardinals tied the modern record with 3 consecutive shutouts by applying a similar blitzing defense. The 3rd shutout was at Dallas against the Superbowl bound Cowboys (Craig Morton & Roger Staubach)-score 38-0. After the 3 shutouts, the Cards were only able to win one game of the last five and missed the playoffs as opposing teams adjusted.
Granted, this Cardinals team is much more athletic than the 1970 team-but, I saw a few near misses in the Pats game that brought back some bad memories.
Is Ray Horton expecting our DBs to succeed long term in one on one coverage or does he have a better plan?

they no how to handle vick. cause they beat him up last year,but vick aint even as good this year as he was a year ago.if he fumbles the ball and throw int’s againts us like he did the first two games this year then we will be three and zero the real bird gang stand up no green in here red nation baby

@-Matt Az.(& other true fans.)In regards to Ryan Williams,(“I hit rock bottom”).I don’t feel sorry for saying this.You all,are putting to much into what this jerk,T-Stone is saying.He’s not worth 5 Secs.of our time!This punk should stick w/his(thugs.)Raiderettes/Cowgirls.Maybe he would be happier then.We should only concentrate now on supporting our team vs/Vick.- GO BIG RED!!! SEE YOU ALL AT THE GAME.

peter in canada. thank you for correcting me. actually, i was just seeing if anyone out there was paying attention. i figured you might be. i also figure that you and i are the only ones out there who saw pisarcik play for the calgary stampeders. correct me if i’m wrong. care to predict sunday’s score?

Games over, we win. Things look good. One question. Is Stewart Bradley still on the team? After a great preseason and looking quite the Stud ILB, while Paris Lenon nursed a bad ankle, then nothing, zilch, nada. Is he in Ray Horton’s doghouse?

Let’s lock up RaY Horton and make him the highest paid DC in the NFL, We are watching something very special with this Defense unit, they play fast and hard. Let’s all remember Offense win games but Defense wins Championships. My hat is off to you Mr. Horton, you have our boys playing like a wild pack of hungry wolves.